Bar Exam Resources Guide

This Guide was created to assist W&L law students in preparing for the bar exam.

Helpful Information

Contact us!

For additional information on print and electronic resources available to you and the information on this Guide, please contact a librarian at LawRef@wlu.edu

For additional information on W&L bar courses, the bar exam components, studying assistance and tips, creating a bar exam study schedule, etc., please contact Prof. Leila Lawlor at llawlor@wlu.edu

For questions regarding the bar exam application process or materials, please contact Dean Maria Saez Tatman at msaeztatman@wlu.edu

Looking for a Notary?

In the Law School:

Sue Coffey, Lewis Hall 233A (540-458-8981 or CoffeyS@wlu.edu)

Brittany Fix, Lewis Hall 348 (540-458-8550 or BFix@wlu.edu)

Victoria Johnston, Lewis Hall 348 (540-458-8544 or VJohnston@wlu.edu)

Brianne Kleinert, Lewis Hall 245 (540-458-8567 or KleinertB@wlu.edu)

Denise Jensen, Lewis Hall 324 (540-458-8541 or DJensen@wlu.edu)

Sheryl Salm, Lewis Hall 105 (540-458-8482 or SalmS@wlu.edu)

Milea Webb, Lewis Hall 322 (540-458-8584 or MWebb@wlu.edu)

Other Notaries on W&L's campus are listed online

The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is REQUIRED for admission to the bar in all jurisdictions except Wisconsin and Puerto Rico. (Note that Connecticut and New Jersey accept successful completion of a law school course on professional responsibility in lieu of a passing score on the MPRE.) 

Registration for the 2024 test dates opens on December 5, 2023. The exam will be administered three times during 2024:

MARCH 26 or 27, 2024     Register by Dec. 5, 2023 Late registration (additional fee) due Jan. 25, 2024
AUGUST 13 or 14, 2024  Register by April 24, 2024 Late registration (additional fee) due June 12, 2024
NOVEMBER 7 or 8, 2024           Register by July 24, 2024      Late registration (additional fee) due Sept. 18, 2024 

 

The MPRE is administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). Registration information, dates, deadlines, fees, etc. may be found on the NCBE MPRE Registration page.

If you intend to apply for test accommodations for the MPRE, you must do so before registering for the exam. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications should be submitted well in advance of your desired MPRE test administration, and preferably by the Recommended Submission Date for that administration.

Content and Scoring of the Exam

The MPRE consists of 60 multiple-choice questions administered during a two-hour examination period. For guidance on what constitutes a passing score on the MPRE, consult your jurisdiction’s information on the MPRE jurisdiction map

According to the NCBE, “[t]he purpose of the MPRE is to measure candidates' knowledge and understanding of established standards related to the professional conduct of lawyers. The MPRE is not a test to determine an individual’s personal ethical values. Lawyers serve in many capacities: for example, as judges, advocates, counselors, and in other roles. The law governing the conduct of lawyers in these roles is applied in disciplinary and bar admission procedures, and by courts in dealing with issues of appearance, representation, privilege, disqualification, and contempt or other censure, and in lawsuits seeking to establish liability for malpractice and other civil or criminal wrongs committed by a lawyer while acting in a professional capacity.”

Study Resources for the MPRE

Study resources available from the Law Library's print and electronic collections:

If you’re looking to purchase additional resources yourself:

  • The NCBE provides you with a few sample test questions online prior to registration. 
  • After exam registration, multiple practice exams are available to you free online via the NCBE website.  
  • The NCBE has a list of MPRE study aids in their online store

Jurisdictions Administering the MPRE

The MPRE is required for admission to the bars of all but two US jurisdictions (Wisconsin and Puerto Rico). Note that Connecticut and New Jersey accept successful completion of a law school course on professional responsibility in lieu of a passing score on the MPRE.

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(last updated March 2023)